The High Court in Nairobi has issued a conservatory order stopping President William Ruto's administration from privatising the Kenya Pipeline Company.
In a ruling delivered on Friday morning, Justice Bahati Mwamuye temporarily halted the sale of the company pending the hearing and determination of a petition filed before the court.
The conservatory order stops the National Treasury from offering for sale, allocating, disposing off, transferring, or dealing with any shares of KPC.
"Pending the inter partes hearing and determination of the applicant's notice of notion dated 14/08/2025, a conservatory order be and is hereby issued restraining the Respondents from offering for sale any shares of the Kenya Pipeline Company," the court ruled.
Following the ruling, the court directed the petitioners to serve the respondents and the Interested parties with the application ahead of the hearing of the matter.
According to Justice Mwamuye, the respondents and the interested parties have until August 22, 2025, to submit their responses.
"The respondents and the interested parties shall enter appearance and file and serve their respective responses to both the application and the petition; and they shall do so by close of business 22/08/2025," Justice Mwamuye ruled.
Adding, "The petitioner shall have leave to file and serve a rejoinder, if need be, and it shall do so by close of business 29/08/2025."
The announcement comes a fortnight after the Cabinet approved the sale of KPC. In a Cabinet dispatch dated July 26, the government said the privatisation of KPC would enable the private sector to drive growth and innovation.
“The decision reflects the government’s policy shift toward reducing its role in doing business and instead enabling the private sector and industry experts to drive growth, efficiency, and innovation,” the dispatch read.
However, the government's intention to sell the parastatal quickly attracted a backlash from KPC employees who expressed fears over losing their jobs should the company be handed to private investors.
In response, Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi dismissed claims of possible mass job losses, stating that employee welfare is protected under existing legal frameworks.
“We do not foresee any job losses or any restructuring to the current job structures at KPC,” said Wandayi.
